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Triple-A All-Star Game features Souza, Pederson

2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Joc Pederson has the approach, bat speed and strength to hit for both average and power

By Teddy Cahill
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MLB.com |

Though Major League Baseball's Midsummer Classic was Tuesday night, the week's All-Star fun isn't over yet. The Triple-A All-Star Game and the Eastern League All-Star Clash will both be held Wednesday and there will be plenty of prospects playing in both games.

The Triple-A All-Star Game will be held in Durham, N.C., and can be seen on both MLB Network and MiLB.TV. The Eastern League All-Star Clash will be played in Altoona, Pa., and broadcast on MiLB.TV. Both games will begin at 7 p.m. ET.

The Triple-A All-Star Game pits the International League against the Pacific Coast League. The International League roster is highlighted by outfielder Steven Souza, the Nationals' No. 14 prospect, who leads the league in batting average (.371), on-base percentage (.449) and slugging percentage (.615). The pitching staff includes right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, ranked No. 90 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list.

The Pacific Coast League lineup is led by outfielder Joc Pederson, ranked No. 29 on the Top 100. The Dodgers' No. 2 prospect leads the league with a 1.017 OPS and, at 22-years old, is one of the youngest players in the circuit. He is joined in the PCL outfield by fellow Top 100 prospect, Stephen Piscotty (No. 79). The Cardinals' No. 2 prospect is hitting .305/.363/.438 in 91 games this season.

The Eastern League All-Star Clash includes several players who participated in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game at Target Field. Second baseman Sean Coyle, shortstop Francisco Lindor, outfielder Steven Moya, first baseman Peter O'Brien, left-hander Henry Owens, outfielder Michael Taylor and first baseman Kennys Vargas have all made the trip from Minneapolis to Altoona for Wednesday's game.

Lindor, ranked No. 9 on the Top 100, highlights the league's hitters. The Indians' No. 1 prospect is hitting .284/.361/.400 with six home runs and 24 stolen bases in 82 games this season.

Owens, ranked No. 26 on the Top 100, started the Futures Game for the U.S. team. With Portland this season, he is 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings. The Red Sox No. 1 prospect leads the league in ERA, wins, strikeouts and WHIP (1.03).

While Triple-A and the Eastern League hold their All-Star games, the rest of the Minor Leagues will continue the regular season Wednesday. Highlighting that action are a few pitchers ranked in the Top 100 who are scheduled to start, including Jon Gray (No. 13), Lucas Sims (No. 47) and Sean Manaea (No. 95). Fans can watch as Gray and Double-A Tulsa take on Northwest Arkansas at 8:05 p.m. MiLB.TV.

Sims will lead Class A Advanced Lynchburg against Carolina at 7:05 p.m., while Manaea will take the ball for Class A Advanced Wilmington at Potomac at 6 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader. Left-hander Brandon Finnegan, the 17th overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, is slated to start the nightcap for the Blue Rocks. It will be his second start of his professional career.